US imposes visa restrictions on thousands of Russian military officers

The US has imposed a new round of visa restrictions on thousands of Russian military officers in response to Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine.

According to Press TV, the US State Department said in a statement on Sunday that it has imposed visa restrictions on 2,609 Russian and Belarusian military officers who have participated in the war with Ukraine.

Visa restrictions on the family and friends of three Belarusian officials Dzmitry Paulichenka, Yury Sivakov, and Viktar Sheiman, were also imposed.

“Under this authority, immediate family members are also ineligible for entry to the United States, including Viktar Sheiman’s wife, Elena Sheiman, and his adult son, Sergei Sheiman,” the Department said in its statement.

The Department also said that it will sanction eight Russian maritime-related companies which include Russia’s Ministry of Defense’s shipping company, Oboronlogistika OOO, accusing it of playing a role in Moscow’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014.

The Department statement added that it took action against 69 vessels that the maritime companies use as well.  

“The Department of State is also designating one maritime engineering company that works with the GoR and Russian state-owned entities,” the Department said. “This action serves as a warning to private Russian companies that those who support Putin’s war machine risk severe costs.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 ordered a “special military operation” in Ukraine’s Donbas region to “defend people” subjected to "genocide" there against government forces, stressing that Moscow has “no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory.”

ME